Cladus (Clay) Flemister was given up by his mother at a young age, and is raised as a virtual recluse by his strict grandfather, in rural north Mississippi. When his grandfather dies suddenly, Cladus, now in his 20s, is left alone in the world but vows to have a full, happy life, despite being deemed 'slow' by the general populace. 'Being social' includes finding a wife to help him end the loneliness out on the remote Flemister Farm. Shunned by the local females as being 'backward', he travels to Memphis to find a wife who doesn't know anything about his background and unconventional "raising." The downside is, Cladus doesn't know anything about her background either, and is too naive to figure it out - at first, anyway. His new wife quickly educates the innocent Cladus to all the carnal activities she has well honed over the years of walking the mean streets of Memphis. When Cladus brings his new city wife to the small town of Boatnerville, Mississippi, their relationship becomes 'tempestuous' in more ways than one - amongst the lush kudzu and full moons of the warm southern skies."